Before you can have your bankruptcy approved, you must take two courses—one before you file (called credit counseling) and then a second course before the judge approves your discharge. This second course deals with financial management. You should begin by finding a list of approved vendors at the U.S. Trustee’s website and then comparing the courses. You can take this course in person, over the phone, or online.

Choose your state. Find the drop-down box labelled “Choose Option.” You can select the state where you are filing for bankruptcy from the states and territories listed. A list of approved providers will appear.

Find vendors who offer courses in a foreign language. All vendors provide services in English and Spanish. However, you can also search for vendors who offer courses in a different language. Go down the page at the U.S. Trustee’s website and look for the section titled “Approved agencies offering services in languages other than English and Spanish.”[1]

Click on the “Choose Option” box and select the language you want.

4

Contact the Trustee with questions. If you have a question, then you should contact the Debtor Education Unit at the Trustee’s Office. You can reach them in the following ways:[2]

Call 202-514-4100

Email ust.de.help@usdoj.gov

Fax 202-305-8536

Part 2

Comparing Courses

1

Check how the course is offered. Courses can be offered in-person, online, or over the phone. Once you pull up your listing of approved providers, you should check to see how they offer the course. Check “Delivery Method.”[3]

If the vendor offers in-person classes, then double-check to find the address where the class is offered. The listings include a “Main Address,” but this is the vendor’s business address. Classes can be held in different locations, which should be listed under “In Person.”

2

Look at the price. From the results at the Trustee’s website, you can click on a direct link to the vendor. Many vendors will list their price on their website. If they don’t, then you can call to check.

3

Identify if you qualify for a fee waiver. A course provider must notify you whether you can take the course for free or for a reduced fee based on your ability to pay. In fact, the provider must give you this information before obtaining any information from you.

Each provider has its own fee waiver policies. However, if your household income is less than 150% of the federal poverty level, then you are entitled to a fee waiver or reduction.[4]

4

Sign up for the course. Once you have selected a provider, you should contact them directly to sign up. You will need the following information, which you can find on your copy of court documents:[5]

the district where you filed for bankruptcy

your bankruptcy case number

Part 3

Completing the Course

1

Avoid delay. There are deadlines you must meet. For example, if you have applied for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, then you must complete the course within 60 days after the first date set for your 341 Meeting of Creditors. If you miss the deadline, the court could close your case and you would need to pay a new filing fee to reopen it.[6]

You have more time in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy to complete the class. You must file your certification no later than the day you make your last plan payment.[7] Since plans last three to five years, you have quite a bit of time to take the course. However, some attorneys recommend that you take it early.

2

Check if you are excused from taking the course. In a limited number of situations, you might not have to take the debtor education course. Check to see if any apply:[8]

no courses are available in your district (very rare)

you are on active duty in a military zone

disability or incapacity makes it impossible to take the course

3

Take the course. The debtor education course should take about two hours.[9] It will focus on how you can make sound financial choices after bankruptcy. It should cover the following topics:[10]

money management

developing a budget

using credit wisely

4

Get your certificate of completion. After you finish the course, the provider should send you a certificate of completion, usually through the mail or by email. Hold onto this certificate since you must file it.